Prepare Now: Your Guide to Emergency Preparedness

While emergencies can impact water utility operations, Golden State Water Company (GSWC) prepares itself to respond to these emergencies and to protect the lives and well-being of customers, employees, and contractors. GSWC has a comprehensive Emergency Management program that includes preparedness and response plans, training, exercises, risk assessments, and implementation of industry best practices. As a water provider that relies on electric power to operate our water systems, in our 2023 General Rate Case, GSWC is investing approximately $12 million to install backup power generators at strategic locations throughout the state to help safeguard against water service interruptions due to unplanned outages of the electric grid.

Our team is committed to reducing the impact of unforeseen emergencies, and we encourage you to do the same. The key is to be prepared for any situation. Emergency Preparedness is vital to keeping your household as safe as possible during unexpected situations. Explore the tips below to learn the steps you can take now to enhance your safety and readiness for whatever may come your way.

Emergency Planning

Ensure you’re prepared for any emergency by following our communications channels. Sign up for email and text alerts and monitor our website, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts for the latest updates. Also, turn on your radio, listen to emergency channels for directions and follow them! 911 circuits may be jammed – have a list of direct phone numbers for police, fire, hospitals and utilities.

SAFE LOCATION: Have a plan based on where you might be when an emergency occurs. Determine where you will go if you’re at home, school, work, in a car, or any other frequently traveled location.

COMMUNICATION PLAN: Designate a friend or relative outside your town or area as your point of contact in the event members of your household are separated during the emergency or if power is interrupted. Determine a place for the members of the household to meet if separated.

EVACUATION PLAN: Make sure you have a detailed map and plan various routes out of your area. Remember, do not rely on the map on your phone as power may be interrupted during an emergency. Avoid low-lying areas and do several “test” runs of different routes.

HAVE A PET PLAN: Make sure all pets in your household have identification collars. Determine a safe place to take your pets (most evacuation shelters do NOT accept animals).

Emergency Supplies

If you do not have one already, develop an emergency supply kit. Make sure everyone in your household knows where this kit is located.

WATER: Minimum three (3) gallons of drinking water per person. Have additional water for sanitation purposes.

FOOD: Minimum 3-day supply of non-perishable food that requires no refrigeration or preparation and little or no water (Canned fruit, juice, vegetables, ready-to-eat meats, soups, crackers, peanut butter, etc.)

FIRST AID KIT: Have one kit for your home and each vehicle (Include: Bandages, gauze, latex gloves, needle/thread, safety pins, scissors, etc.). Remember to include your medications!

ESSENTIALS: Make sure you have a battery-operated radio, flashlights and extra batteries.

SANITATION: Soap, toilet paper, personal hygiene items, plastic garbage bags, household bleach, plastic bucket with a tight lid.

CLOTHING: Sunglasses, hat/gloves, sleeping bag/blankets, sturdy shoes, and one complete change of clothing and shoes per person.

BABY SUPPLIES: Formula, bottles, diapers, medications, powdered milk, etc.

PET SUPPLIES: Pet food, vaccination records, harness/leash/carrier, plastic containers, etc.

IMPORTANT FAMILY DOCUMENTS: Key telephone numbers (emergency agencies/family/friends), bank account numbers, cash, family records (birth, marriage, death certificates); inventory/photos of valuable household goods; copies of insurance policies, wills, deeds, investments; records/list of credit card account numbers and companies; copies of social security cards, passports, prescriptions.

FAMILY MEDICAL ITEMS: Insulin, denture needs, contact lenses/supplies, extra eyeglasses, prescription drugs and medications.

COMPUTER ITEMS: Take discs of important documents or information or your laptop computer. Having a portable power bank can help charge your phone and computer if power is interrupted.

It’s important to customize your kits based on your family’s needs and review the above information with your family.

Things To Remember

Regardless of the emergency, if the power goes out, water purification systems may fail, and water may not be available, or it can become contaminated. In the unlikely event that this occurs, you will receive specific recommendations from Golden State Water for boiling or treating water in your area.

For more information on preparedness and readiness, go to https://www.ready.gov/.